Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) is one type of eccentric personality disorder. If you have STPD, your behavior and mannerisms may appear strange to others. While STPD is on the schizophrenia spectrum, people with STPD don’t usually experience psychosis.

➖What are the signs and symptoms of STPD?
The symptoms of STPD include:
▪️strange thinking or behavior
▪️unusual beliefs
▪️discomfort in social situations
▪️a lack of emotion or inappropriate emotional responses
▪️odd speech that may be vague or rambling
▪️a lack of close friends
▪️extreme social anxiety
▪️paranoia

People with STPD tend to lead solitary lives. If you have intense social anxiety, you may find it hard to build relationships. You may blame others for your discomfort in social situations.

People with STPD don’t usually have psychotic symptoms. Hallucinations, delusions, and loss of touch with reality are hallmarks of psychosis. Delusions are fixed and false beliefs.

However, they do often have ideas of reference. An idea of reference is an incorrect interpretation of casual incidents and external events that the person believes have a particular and unusual meaning. This meaning can either be in general or for the person experiencing the idea of reference.

➖What are the risk factors?
STPD tends to run in families. You may be at risk if you have a relative with:
▪️schizophrenia
▪️schizotypal personality disorder
▪️another personality disorder

Environmental factors, especially childhood experiences, may play a role in the development of this disorder. These factors include:
▪️abuse
▪️neglect
▪️trauma
▪️stress
▪️having a parent who is emotionally detached